Today was my second round at Arrowhead Golf Club. I played here in June and then got rained out in September. I wanted to use my rain check before the weather got too chilly. Thankfully the weather was much better today!
Depending on which website you look at, Arrowhead can get ranked as one of the top public courses in Colorado. Like all rankings though, the final verdict comes down to personal tastes. I had mixed feelings about the course after playing here the first time. And after round two, those feelings didn’t change much.
As far as the good goes, Arrowhead (a Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. design) has some of the most stunning and interesting golf course scenery that I’ve encountered in my travels. Visually, it is an incredible experience.
What makes the scenery so amazing at Arrowhead are all the tall pointy red rocks that dot the property. If you’ve seen any pictures from the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, then that is what you can expect here. The holes weave through the rocks with tees and greens tucked quite close to them. A few holes have rocks in the fairways. If you aren’t careful a stray shot can even clip the edge of one. Pretty unique.
The 13th is the signature hole at Arrowhead and plays through the rocks. It is a 173 yard par-3 that plays significantly downhill. I’d say it plays three clubs less if trying to adjust for the elevation too. The tees and green are surrounded by the red rocks and the color contrast between the rocks and the grass really pops. There are a number of other interesting holes. The 5th and 14th are interesting par-4’s that dogleg around big rocks.
And now, the not so good news about the course. If I’m honest, besides the scenery, Arrowhead just didn’t do it for me. The green fee is $200 on a weekend morning, even this late in the year. Oof. Plus, the design has tons of funk and the playability lacks. A friend of mine really seems to like the course, so take my opinion for what it is worth. Nothing, ha!
I’ve played the black tees during both of my rounds and I don’t think there is one easy shot at Arrowhead. The course is a par-70 and the black tees are 72.0/139/6636. Even from 6,300 yards the slope is 135. The design has many severely sloping greens, forced layups, forced carries, odd doglegs, and uneven stances. Unless you are a stick, then the design will probably beat you up pretty good.
The conditions have been solid both times I’ve played here. The tees and fairways were lush. The greens rolled well and were quick. Maybe too quick given all their slope. The rough was thick and tough to play from. The bunkers are inconsistent and need some fresh sand.
If you are in Denver and looking for a premium course then Arrowhead should be towards the top of your list. I certainly think the course is a bucket list place in the Mountain time zone. And, the collection of par-3’s are very good. But, now that I’ve played here a couple times, the $200 green fee hurts. If you can get out here during the week for a reasonable price then I’d say give it a try as the scenery is breathtaking.
Course Pictures (click any picture to scroll through the gallery):